One of the most fulfilling aspects of doing strategic clarity work for clients is learning new subject matters. Given my work in multidisciplinary projects and industries, taking the time to expand my knowledge base to gain clarity around relevant topics results in more holistic thinking, better solutions for my clients, and offers greater opportunities to grow both professionally and personally. While it may be tempting to bank on what’s worked in the past, I have chosen to develop a few habits and strategies to help me increase my knowledge base around any subject matter.
- SIGN UP - The first one is signing up for workshops, sprints, and even programs in areas beyond my current knowledge base. By exploring different topics and ideas, I can explore not just what I know but also what there is to learn. Taking time to learn from different disciplines helps me develop a deeper understanding of concepts that may otherwise fly over my head or be forgotten quickly. This allows me to make connections between seemingly unrelated topics and gives me an appreciation for their nuances and complexities. While I understand that we all have limited time and are extremely busy, I’ve found that I can usually “find time” when I prioritize learning. It may mean that I cancel some meetings, take less time elsewhere, and/or do early morning / late work. Does it come at some level of sacrifice? Of course. Is it worth it? Absolutely.
- ASK GOOD QUESTIONS - Another strategy I use is asking better questions during conversations with relevant subject matter experts. Asking the right questions can open up the conversation to more meaningful discussion which leads to learning opportunities. It also prevents me from glossing over important information that could be missed if the conversation were too general or focused on only one area of knowledge. Here’s a helpful article I once read about how to ask great questions from HBR.
- TAKE NOTES - Improving my note-taking skills has also been key in increasing knowledge retention. Being able to take notes effectively helps ensure that I can go back and revisit topics later on when needed, while also helping me remember new concepts better during initial conversations with experts or while attending lectures or seminars. Furthermore, organizing notes by topic ensures that related information is easy to find when needed again in the future. I personally like to use Evernote for its tagging functionality and ease to use with iPad. There are plenty of notetaking software available out there that will help you stay organized.
- EVENTS - Attending conferences outside my usual areas of focus has been another great way for me to gain knowledge in areas where I may not have as much experience or familiarity yet. Even if these events are just listening sessions at first, they provide an opportunity for exposure as well as give insight into other perspectives that come from outside my own circle of knowledge-building activities. Remember, sometimes ideas arise when two or more seemingly unrelated concepts intersect. Stay open to new ideas and ways of thinking. You don’t have to be an expert in every field, but you should pay attention to how people think in various spaces.
- PAUSE & NOTE - Finally, taking the time to pause whenever I hear something unfamiliar can help foster curiosity about the topic instead of assuming it's something I won't understand anyway so why bother with it? Writing down those ideas in my notes gives me something tangible so I can return later when I'm feeling curious about them again so that further exploration can happen then rather than letting them fade away altogether due to lack of follow-up at the moment when heard initially.
By constantly pushing myself out of my comfort zone and actively engaging in knowledge-building activities such as those mentioned above—and many more—I am able to continue expanding my knowledge base on topics both within and outside my existing circles of expertise while also learning how best to translate these insights into actionable results going forward!
What are some things that you do to keep learning and growing?
